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Services for Youth
as they Transition
to Adulthood
Jayson K. Jones McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research
Michelle L. Ray Youth in Progress
Cortney Lovell Young People in Recovery
Stephanie Orlando YOUTH POWER!
Positive Youth Development:
An Approach in Step-Up
Zoila A. Del-Villar, MS, CASAC
Jayson K. Jones, LMSW
H. Chris Villatoro, LMSW
Agenda
• Overview of Step-Up
• Step-Up Participants & Their Needs
• Positive Youth Development Model
• Recommendations for Providers
• What is Step-Up?
– Positive youth development program
– Addresses social emotional development
– Promotes academic achievement
– High school graduation
– Positive transition to adulthood
Program Goals
• Provide psycho-social support & mentorship
• Increase school engagement
• Improve academic performance
• Support on time high school graduation
• Development of post graduation plan
• Enhance social relationships
• Build positive identity
• Enhance strengths and protective factors
Program Components
• Life-Skills Youth Groups
• One-on-One Mentor
• Teacher/School Staff Engagement
• Academic Incentives
• Events, Trips, & Community Projects
• Who are Step-Up Participants?
– Nominated student with identified potential
• With one or more of the following:
– 75 GPA or lower
– 1 academic year behind
– Insufficient credits
– Decreased attendance and academic performance
– Difficulties forming/ maintaining positive relationships with teachers & peers
– Family /home circumstances impacting academic achievement
Positive Youth Development (PYD)
• A framework used to design and guide programs and services for children and youth.
• PYD emphasizes the relationship between young people’s strengths and resources and their capacity to live healthy and productive lives.
(Baber, 2011)
PYD Perspective: • Focus on strengths in the community, school, &
family • These strengths are “developmental assets” used to
promote positive youth development
• These assets promote positive, healthy development
(Benson, 2007)
PYD Perspective Emphasizes:
• Positive relationships between youth and adults
• Activities that build important life skills
• Opportunities for youth to use these life skills as participants and as leaders
• Positive vision and vocabulary for discussing youth
Psycho-social measures for PYD:
• School engagement
• Practical support behavior from friends
• Emotional self-regulation
• Behavioral self-regulation
• Life skill knowledge in social relationships
• Life skill knowledge in self-care
Applying PYD to Step-Up
Adolescents are motivated to make their lives work well and so we work to support their capabilities
Focus on protective factors instead of risk factors
Allow adolescents to be producers of their own development and life course
Need the opportunity for trial and error to learn
Provide a validating environment
Step-Up Data
• Years of Operation: 7
• Number of students served: 470 in 8 schools
• Male/ female ration: 45% male, 55% female
• Race breakdown: 56 % Latino, 37% African American
• Free Lunch eligible: 90%
• Completion of Step Up: 84%
• Graduation Rate: 84% (graduated or on track for high school graduation)
Findings on Academic Outcomes • Participants who completed Step-Up were more likely to improve
their academic performance after one year, earn more credits than
students not engaged in Step-Up, and have higher odds of graduating
from high school
• Significant correlation between group attendance and academic
improvement.
Recommendations for Providers
• Encourage, support and empower adolescents to use their capabilities to better their lives
• Focus on protective factors instead of risk factors
• Allow adolescents to be producers of their own development and life course
• Allow opportunities for trial and error in order to learn
• Provide a validating environment
H. Chris Villatoro
Jayson K. Jones
Zoila A. Del-Villar
What is Youth In Progress?
YIP in NY State
YIP Team Members
• Youth ages 14-21 who are involved in the foster
care system in NY State
• Adolescent Services Resource Network (ASRN)
• Representatives from the Office of Children and
Family Services OCFS
• Mentors: Adults who work with youth in care who
accompany youth leaders to YIP activities and
participate
Mentors
• Staff members from child welfare agencies
• Offer guidance and support to youth leaders
• Support youth to lead the groups
• Contribute to meetings
• Act as a positive role model
YIP Activities
1. Monthly Regional Meetings
2. Quarterly meetings with Commissioners of
OCFS and ACS
3. Youth development workshops
4. Youth Speak Out
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Speak Out
• Annual Event
• Opportunity to speak directly with
representatives from ACS, OCFS, agency
leaders & representatives from family court
• They listen. We talk.
Meetings with
the Commissioner of OCFS
• Opportunity for youth to be heard by
Commissioners and advocate for youth in
care
“I am a youth advocate for the 27,000
youth that currently live in foster care, and I
love it. I enjoy representing and advocating
for my peers. It has been the greatest thing
I have ever accomplished.”
Responses from OCFS
• Need to Know Series
• Foster Care Bill of Rights
• Handbook for Youth in Care
• Position statement for “normalcy”
YIP Website
Challenges for Youth Transitioning
from Foster Care
Each year approximately 20,000 youth are living in the foster care system in New York State, and about 4000 are between the ages of 18 and 21.
• 20% leave care with a high school diploma or GED
• At age 24, only half of these youth will be employed
• A quarter of foster youth will experience homelessness within the first four
years of aging out of the system
• One in four will be entangled in the justice system within two years of exiting
foster care
• 2.5% will complete a four year degree as compared to 23.5% of the general
public
Future Recommendations
• Adequate educational support for youth in foster care
• Career development and employment opportunities for youth
ages 14 and older
• Funding for kinships programs so that youth can continue to
remain with relative foster families and receive financial
assistance for living expenses
• Full tuition aid to SUNY/CUNY for youth in foster care and those
who age out
• Create additional supportive housing options with on-site clinical
and transitional support services
Sources Dion, R., Dworsky, R., Kauff, J., Kleinman, R. (2014). Housing for
youth aging out of foster care. U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research,
Washington, DC.
Fostering Youth Success Alliance website
http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/fysa
Mastin, D., Metzger, S. & Golden, J. (2013). Foster care and
disconnected youth: A way forward for new york. The Children’s
Aid Society and Community Service Society.
Youth in Progress website
http://www.youthinprogress.org/
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
Building recovery-ready communities to support our youth
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
Cortney Lovell
Why we do what we do
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
What is YPR?
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– National volunteer network of chapter leaders and members
– Providing peer-to-peer services for young people in, or seeking, recovery
– Improving access to:
• treatment
• educational resources
• employment opportunities
• secure, stable housing that sustains young people in recovery
• fun social events with an alternative peer group that supports recovery
– Embracing all pathways to recovery (12-steps, SMART recovery, harm reduction, faith-based, etc)
– Welcoming parents, friends, and co-workers of young people in recovery in all service/leadership positions and to sign up as a SUPPORTER
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
History of YPR • 2013:
– Originally created as a strategic initiative by SAMHSA in 2010, YPR incorporates in Denver, CO with national staff, Board of Directors
• 2015:
– 48 Chapters across the country
– Second National Leadership Conference will be held in NY at Adelphi
– First UNITE Youth Recovery Conference in partnership with Association for Recovery Schools in Philadelphia, PA
– 2015 SAMHSA National Recovery Month event sponsor with NatCon, TYR, ARS
– Currently executing 2 federal grants, 4 state contracts, 3 private contracts
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
Strategic Pillars for Success and Impact
How do YPR chapters work? What do they do?
– All YPR services are 100% free to the general public
– Workshops offered in:
• Employment– how to write a resume/cover letter; finding recovery-friendly employers, how to explain “gaps” in experience or incarceration due to addiction
• Housing– how to find safe, affordable housing that supports long-term recovery
• Education-- how to continue/complete one’s education, Collegiate Recovery Programs, filling out forms for applications/financial aid, explaining “gaps”
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
YPR in the Community • YPR chapter leaders & members:
– Speaking engagements/public awareness events
– Continuing education workshops for treatment professionals
– Town hall meetings, school assemblies, community forums
– Awareness/education events on prevention, addiction and recovery
– Collaboration with criminal justice organizations, school systems/school boards, community task force on drug addiction/prevention
– Source of accurate, evidence-based information on addiction and recovery for the news media
– Recovery celebration events/Recovery Month
– Local, state and national conferences
– FUN!
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
2015 Climate Survey
Member Engagement
Duration of Member involvement
< 1 yr > 1 yr
YPR Members who plan to be involved in YPR in a year from now
Plan to be involved Will not be involved
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
How Can You Support YPR?
• Become a SUPPORTER Today! Register at www.youngpeopleinrecovery.org
• Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram:
– Facebook.com/youngpeopleinrecovery
– Instagram: @yngpplrecovery
– Twitter: @yngpplerecover
• Make a gift to YPR:
– Text RECOVERY to 41444
– Visit our website & click on the DONATE button
Lorem Ipsum Street, 45
Phone +476234128123 youngpeopleinrecovery.org
New York State
Youth Run Network
Stephanie Orlando
Mission Statement:
YOUTH POWER! is the New York State network of young people
who have been labeled and are seeking change. Together, we
have decided to speak up about our experiences because no
one knows what it is like for us better than we do. Through
peer-to-peer mentoring, we empower young people to be active
citizens who are aware of government operations, their rights
and the ability to use their voices to influence policies,
practices, regulations and laws. We are young people helping
other people, ensuring availability of self-help and peer support
while changing systems so that young people get the support
they need with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Working Across Systems and
Disabilities
Mental Health
Special Education
Foster Care
Juvenile Justice
Addiction
Developmental Disabilities
Independent Living
All Disabilities
YP! Leadership
The YOUTH POWER! Board is the guiding force of all of the network’s work and activities.
• Transitioning to independence
as YP! inc.
• Leading the Working Groups
• Recruiting and engaging
members
• Fundraising
• Guiding the work of YP!
• Advocacy for our Priority
Agenda
Current Board Priorities Are:
Regional Youth Partners
(RYP)
Young adults with personal
experience in receiving services
from multiple state systems
Ensure meaningful two-way
communication between youth-
serving agencies and the young
people using their services
Are charged with networking youth
involvement on a regional level
Assist local youth peer support and
advisory councils to build, develop,
and strengthen advocacy skills
Visit YOUTHPOWERNY.org for contact information.
Outreach Workgroup creates ways to grow the network and
strengthen its voice. The workgroup acts as an editorial board for our printed member newsletter.
Special Events Workgroup Takes the lead in planning our major
statewide events such as the FTNYS conference and YP! University
Action Workgroup – Speak Out The Workgroup advances the YP! priority
agenda by creating action campaigns.
Regional Teams Each of the 5 regions has a team to plan
events and projects/campaigns
Members can contribute to
YP! by joining a team
• Began producing an advocacy agenda in 2008
• Decided to move to a three year agenda in
2013
• Hold regional forums to gain input from young
people who are currently in residential
placement and in the community.
• Incorporate information from Surveys, focus
groups and other events YP! hosted in the past
couple of years.
• Priority Agenda show cases the top issues we
are working on and focuses our advocacy
efforts.
• The current agenda was brought to a meeting
with President Obama.
Priority Agenda
Sp
re
ad
in
g
Ho
pe
@YPSpreadsHope
#YPHope
The System of
Care Values
Family-driven: Families have primary decision making roles
Youth-guided: Young people have the right to be empowered,
educated, and given a decision‐making role in their own care
and care of all youth
Strength-Based: Focusing on the strengths of a community
Culturally Competent: Being sensitive to the wide variety of
cultures and languages, and the integration of said cultures and
languages
Community-Based: Needed supports should be readily
available within ones own community
Rensselaer County
Example
VOYA
Voices of Youth Advisors
Differing Titles:
• Youth Advocates
• Youth Peer Support Person
• Youth Peer Mentors
Differing Settings:
• Residential
• Inpatient
• Community
Differing “Systems”:
• Building in Foster Care and in the Disability Independent living movement
Youth Peer Services
OMH Waiver YPA Training
Online and in person training
components covering:
Role of Youth Peer Advocate in the
Waiver System
Peer Advocacy and Support
Group Facilitation Skills
Professional Expectations:
Confidentiality /Supervision
Self-care and support
Systems navigation
• 2nd annual took place in June 2015 and will
center on the ADA anniversary.
• 4 day conference modeled after the college
experience
• Major in Systems Advocacy or Peer Advocacy
• Stay overnight in a dorm
• Leaders’ Dinner with state government
officials
• Planned by the special events working group
• Currently seeking sponsors/partners for 2015
Employment
Initiative
Conference Workshops
Youth Videos
Adult Webinars
Supporting Self-Advocacy Trainings
Albany County Mentoring
Program
• Career Mentoring program
for youth with disabilities
who are at-risk of
involvement in JJ
• Last Year of identified
funding
• Funded since 2009 by
OJJDP
• Led by IEL
• Serve 30 youth per year
OMH TAY WORKGROUP
TAY CONFERENCE
We are Young
We are Strong
We are
YOUTH POWER!
www.facebook.com/YOUTHPOWER.NY
www.YOUTHPOWERNY.org
@YOUTHPOWERNY
@YOUTHPOWERNY
/YOUTHPOWER.NY
